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How Does it Work?

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The financial aid process at Duke begins when you file an aid application. Duke reviews each application and determines the amount the student and family is expected to pay. Any remaining costs are covered by financial aid in the form of grants, work study, and limited student loans.

Note: The Financial Aid Office considers students for need-based aid only. If you are interested in learning about merit scholarships, outside scholarships, veterans benefits, or other sources of aid, click the link below.

Your Family Contribution

Your family contribution is made up of two parts: the amount expected from parent(s) and the amount expected from you. Duke expects a minimum contribution from a first-year student of $2,600 per year, regardless of income. The parent contribution is calculated by the Financial Aid Office based on the income and assets held by the family. Families with a total annual income of $60,000 or less, and typical assets, will have an expected parent contribution of $0.

Your Aid

Once we’ve determined your family contribution, we’ll build your financial aid award. The financial aid award may consist of work study, limited student loans*, grants, and scholarships. All applicants are offered up to $2,200 in work-study funding, which can be earned during the academic year. (Click here to learn more about what work study is and how it can help.) In addition to work study, some applicants are offered federal or low-interest loans. The rest of your family's need will be met with grants and scholarships.

Sample Duke Financial Aid Award:

Below is an example of what a financial aid award would look like for a family whose expected contribution is $20,000.

The contribution expected from your parent(s) is based on factors like income, assets, and number of siblings attending college at once. To estimate your own family contribution, click the button below.

*Loan amounts included in an aid award are determined based on a household's total annual income as illustrated by the chart below:

Total Income

Loan Award

under $40,000

$0

between $40,000 - $55,000

$2,000

between $55,000 - $70,000

$3,000

between $70,000 - $85,000

$4,000

Over $85,000

$5,000

Once the appropriate loan and work-study levels have been applied, the remaining financial aid will be issued in the form of need-based grants and scholarships.

What to do next

There are many factors to consider when determining how much a family can contribute. The following links provide further information on our review process and policies, other sources of aid, and how to apply.